2 September 2010

Ref: 45/2010

Media Release

The Festing runs the Best – Bar NoneThe search has ended to find the City’s best venues for safe and enjoyable socialising.

Led by the Safer Portsmouth Partnership, the Portsmouth Best Bar None Scheme held its award ceremony last night at the New Theatre Royal.

Hosted by Galaxy FM’s Ben Glover the ceremony awarded formal accreditation to those venues that were able to demonstrate considerable efforts to assure customer safety, the prevention of crime, noise, disturbance and the misuse of alcohol and other substances - all objectives under the licensing act.

The overall winner of the Portsmouth Best Bar None 2010 went to The Festing, on Festing Road, Southsea.

The Festing was chosen for a number of reasons including:

It has facilities to record when a member of staff has refused a sale on the grounds of age or drunkenness. This aids record keeping and due diligence purposes.

The Manager always ensures that at least one male is on duty to deal with any issues as there are no doorstaff.

It has very good relationships with neighbouring businesses and is involved in tackling proxy sales.

It has a strict policy regarding the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers. E.g. if someone buys two drinks, manager asks for 2 sets of photographic I.D. to be produced.

Other winners were as follows:

Best Bar = Slug & Lettuce, on Palmeston Road, SouthseaRunner Up = Ha Ha Bar & Grill, Gunwharf

Best Pub = The Festing, on Festing Road, SouthseaRunner Up = Goose at the V & A, on Albert Road, Southsea

Best Independent Establishment = The Rifle Club, Goldsmith Avenue, SouthseaRunner Up = The Waterhole Bar (Students Union), on Cambridge Road

Best Club = Marthas, on Commercial RoadRunner Up = Tiger Tiger, Gunwharf

The News Readers Choice = The Phoenix, on Duncan Road, Southsea

Portsmouth Business Crime Reduction Partnership winners:

Individual Contribution Award = Ian Cozens at Tiger Tiger, GunwharfBusiness Award for Outstanding Partnership Contribution = Barry Kewell at the Northcote Hotel,

David Williams, Chief Executive of Portsmouth City Council and Chair of the Safer Portsmouth Partnership said: “The night time economy is important to Portsmouth as it is worth over £85m to the city’s economy and employs thousands of people.

The Safer Portsmouth Partnership is the coming together of Portsmouth Services who are working together to achieve long term sustainable reductions in crime, disorder and substance misuse. Best Bar None is seen as one of the tools to achieve these priorities with assessors from the police, the fire service, the ambulance service and the council taking part.

This year we have had a good range of premises apply to the scheme, from big corporate branded bars to local community pubs. The assessments have shown that there really are some excellent examples of good practice and partnership working within the licensed premises in Portsmouth. Through actions like these licensed premises in Portsmouth have demonstrated their commitment to the local community that they serve”. Bill Dearsley, Chair of Portsmouth City Pubwatch said: “Portsmouth City Pubwatch is pleased to give it's full support to the Portsmouth Best Bar None awards. With categories including pub, bar, club and independent, there has been an opportunity for every licensee to showcase the good practice, warm welcome and secure environment they provide for their customers”

Ends

About Safer Portsmouth PartnershipSafer Portsmouth Partnership is a group of statutory and voluntary community group that meet regularly and work together to reduce crime, substance misuse and the fear of crime. Their goal is to make Portsmouth a safe place to live, work and visit.

For interviews with the winners and general media enquiries:

krista.ford@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, Communications Officer Safer Portsmouth PartnershipTel: 023 92834823 Email: krista.ford@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

or

Heather-Fiona Egan, Communications Officer, Safer Portsmouth PartnershipTel: 023 9284 1723 Email: heather-fiona.egan@portsmouthcc.gov.uk mailto:heather-fiona.egan@portsmouthcc.gov.uk